Transistor handling apparatus



y 20, 1965 L. P. ZIMMERMAN ETAL 3,195,584

TRANSISTOR HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 6, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 20, 1 L. P. ZIMMERMAN ETAL 3,195,584

TRANSISTOR HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 6. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l I v l I I I II UNMWI I HU W u n nx hn July 20, 1965 P. ZIMMERMAN ETAL 3,195,584

TRANSISTOR HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 6, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 m 1' 1/ 1 fl T @4 4 32 FIG 4 T I, I

July 20, 1965 1.. P. ZIMMERMAN ETAL 3,195,584

TRANSISTOR HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 6, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet '4 y 20, 1965 L. P. ZIMMERMAN ETAL 3,195,584

TRANSISTOR HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Deg. 6, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1965 1.. P. ZIMMERMAN ETAL 3,195,584

TRANSISTOR HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 6, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 no new 60 I77 r A A I i&\' 9 L ,1 I79 O 5 I 1: '78 W2 I\\\X\\ I70 HG I9 94 m m y 20, 1965 1.. P. ZIMMERMAN ETAL 3,195,584

TRANSISTOR HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 6, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 FIG 20 United States Patent TRANSESTUR HANDLING APPARATUS Louis P. Zimmerman and Albert W. Zcmelr, Binghamton, N.Y., assignors to Universal Instruments Corporation,

liinghamton, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Dec. 6, 1361, Ser. No. 157,432, new Patent No. 3,122,179, dated Feb. 25, 1964. Divided and this application An. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 223,572

10 Claims. (Cl. 140-147) This application is a division of our copending application, Serial No. 157,432, filed December 6, 1961, which issued as US. Patent No. 3,122,179 on February 25, 1964.

The present invention relates to apparatus for handling ransistors, or similar electrical components having leads extending from the body thereof, and more particularly to apparatus for combing the leads and then feeding the transistor to a receiving member. The receiving member disclosed is a lead straightener, there being a guide to guide the leads to the straightener.

Apparatus heretofore developed for the handling of the leads of a large number of electrical components has generally been in the field of electric lamps and so-called vacuum tubes. Generally, the known apparatus is either partially hand-operated, making it necessarily slow, or is specifically adapted to the particular items noted. In either case, the known apparatus is unsuitable to the rapid and automatic production of transistors, wherein special requirements and configurations are met.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus to enable the rapid and automatic combing and straightening of transistor leads, or the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for combing the leads of a transistor or the like.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lead comber which will securely hold the transistor during both lead combing and later feeding of the transistor.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a supplementary guide for the leads of a transistor during feeding of the transistor.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a guide for the leads of a transistor; a guide which will positively receive and guide the leads; and a guide which may be removed from the path of the transistor body during feeding advance thereof.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus capable of realizing the above objects and which will be reliable and dependable in operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a transistor lead comber and straightener in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FlG. 3 is an elevational View taken on the line 33 of PEG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of PEG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a part of the mechanism as shown in FIG. 4, showing the parts in a different position thereof.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 2.

3,195,584 Patented July 20, 1965 "ice FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 33 of FIG. 7.

FlG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of P16. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1tl of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the lead comber of the invention, taken on the opposite side thereof from MS. 1.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, showing the parts after an initial movement thereof.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 12, and showing the parts after still further movement thereof.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 141 l of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14, and showing the parts after further movement.

PEG. 16 is a slide elevational view showing a supplementary guide attached to a lead comber and feeder.

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view thereof.

FlG. 18 is an elevational view of the supplementary guide per se.

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 16, but showing the parts in a different position.

FIG. 20 is an elevational view of the lead guide and straightener, taken on line 2tl2tl of FIG. 1.

FlG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 16, but showing the parts in a different position thereof.

FIG. 22 is an elevational view of the die block of the lead straightener.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of the die block shown in FlG. 22.

General description In accordance with the present invention, transistors or similar elements having a head or body portion and three extending leads or lead wires are placed in a predetermined orientation in a chute, with the leads extending in generally the same direction, the leads being somewhat bent and crooked. From the chute, a feeder mechanism feeds the transistors one at a time into a nest, which is at the front end of a feed bolt. A retainer arm serves to keep the transistor head seated in the nest, and a pair of comb elements, carried by a pair of comb arms, are caused to close and to thereby grip the extending leads. These comb elements grip the leads closely adjacent the transistor head and then move away from the transistor head so as to comb or separate the leads. These comb elements travel approximately to the free ends of the leads, and during this motion, which is relatively rapid, the feed bolt begins to move in the same direction, carrying the nest and the transistor head with it. The transistor leads are thereby inserted into holes in a guide device, designated an iris guide, and the comb arms then separate to permit the transistor head and the nest to move through the plane formerly occupied by the comb elements. The leads being pushed generally axially through the holes in the iris guide enter appropriate openings in a set of die blocks, which openings are in registry with the openings or holes in the iris guide. The feed bolt continues its movement, pushing the transistor head not only through the plane formerly occupied by the comb elements, but also through the plane formerly occupied by the iris guide element, which has been retracted prior to the transistor head reaching the plane thereof. The retainer arm having previously been moved to a withdrawn position, an ejector pin pushes from within the feed bolt against the transistor head to give it its final movement towards the die blocks. The feed bolt and comb carriage and related mechanisms are then retracted to an initial position.

When the leads of the transistor are in the die block, I

a force is exerted on one of the die blocks to effect a straightening of the leads. A receiver chute, synchronized with the iris guide mechanism rises to receive the head of the transistor, and the die blocks are then moved axially away from the transistor head, tothereby release the leads, permitting the transistor to pass by gravity through the receiver chute.

In order to achieve additional guidance, tab-supple mentary guide may be provided to guide the leads after they are no longer supported by the comb elements. The supplementary guide comprises a pair of, grooved guide blocks which receive the leads as the nest moves forwardly, and guides them until they are moved from out of the path of the nest and transistor head as these elements approach.

Main drive and supply mechanism A large number of transistors T are placed in a supply container 31, which is in the formcf a vibrating bowl feed device. The vibrating bowl feeder 31 causes the transistors to pass into a chute 32 in a predetermined orientation, and the leadsof a number of transistors may be seen extending from the chute 32 in FIG. 1.

A main drive motor 33 is provided, this being a, synchronous motor in its preferred form. Referring to FIG. 2, a shaft 34 of motor 33 drives a main shaft 36 through a slip clutch 37. Shaft 36 carries a one lobe cam 35 which operates switch 45. On shaft 36 also is a support 38 which mounts three cylindrical cams 39, 40 and 41. I

A cam follower 42 is reciprocated by cam 39, and

receiving the pin 52 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Pin

52 depends from a pusher bar 53 which is guided in a housing 54 (FIG. 4). generally arcuate formation, 7 as at 56. the housing 54 is a spring keeper 57.

In FIG. 4, the pusher bar 53 is shown approaching the lowermost transistor T held in the chute 32 and kept in position by the keeper 57. In FIG. 5, the pusher bar 53 has pushed the lowermost transistor out of the end of chute 32, overcoming the force of spring keeper 57, and has inserted thehead of the transistor T into a nest 61 with the leads of the transistor extend, ing forwardly through a slot 62 in a retainer 63. As shownin FIG. 5, the pusher bar 53 has completed its movement to the left, and is now proceeding to the right, which is its retracted position.

Mounted on The camber and feeder The comber and feeder, designated 60, may be seen in FIG. 2 to comprise a feed bolt 65 and a combcarriage 85, these two elements being driven by the followers 66 and 86 from the cylindrical cams 41 and 40, respectively. I

The feed bolt 65 carries the nest 61 at its forward or left end,-and also carries, as shown on FIG. 8, the retainer arm 64. Retainer arm 64 is pivoted to feed bolt 65 by a pin 66, and carries at its forward end the retainer 63. A spring 67 carried in the feed bolt 65 urges the retainer arm 64 outwardly, or in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 8. of the comber and feeder mechanism has a plate 68 witha slot 69 therein, as isshown also in FIG. 11, where the retainer arm 64 may be seen through the said slot 69. Y

The housing 47 An end of pusher bar 53 is of The nest 61 is concave at its forward end, as is best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and has a generally axially extending bore in which is an ejector 71 in the form of a rod. Ejector 71 is urged to its right hand or re tracted position, which is shown in FIG. 8, by a spring 72 which abuts against a plate 73 on the ejector 71. The ejector 71 and spring 72 are in a bore 74in feed bolt 65, and the ejector 71 may be actuated by a lever 76 which is pivotally supported by a pin, 77- in feed bolt 65, one end'of lever 76 abutting against an end of ejector 71 andthe other end extending outwardly of feed bolt 65.-

Referring now to FIG. 9, there are provided in the feed bolt a pair of non-linear trackways 78 and 79, these controlling the movement ofthe comb arms,'in a manner to be described below.

The comb carriage 85, as shown in FIG. 7, is movable longitudinally, and carries a pair of opposed comb arms 86'and 87, these comb arms being pivotally secured to comb carriage by the pins 88 and 89, respectively. A follower pin is carried by, the comb arm 86, and is shown in FIG. 2, and a similar follower pin 91 is carried by the comb arm 87, both of these pins being shown in cross-section in FIG.9. Follower pin 90 extends into the trackway 78 of feed bolt 65 and follower pin 91 extends into trackway 79 thereof. As will be understood, relative movement of feed bolt 65 and comb carriage 85 will cause the comb arms 86 and 87 to swing open or closed, as determined by the followerpins 90 and 91 inthe trackways 78 and 79. This swinging movement of the comb arms 86 and 87 is permitted by slots 92and 93 in the housing 47.

In FIG. 10, the comber and feeder 60 is further shown, and there may be seen the comb arms 86 and 87 with their follower'pins 90 and 91 extending into the trackw'ays 78 and. 79, with the pivot pins 88 and 89 in the comb carriage 85.

As is bestseen in FIGS. 4 and 6, the comb arm 86 carries at its forward end a comb .94 havingthree recesses 96 between the teeth thereof and the comb arm 87 carries a comb which also has three recesses 97 between the teeth thereof. The open position of the comb arms '86 and 87 is shown in FIG. 4 and the closed or overlapped position is shown in FIG. 6, this being the position in which the leads of the transistor T are shown extending through the recesses 96 and .97

and being gripped by thev combs 94 and 95.

g V In FIGS. 8 and 10, the outer end of the lever76 maybe seen to extend into a slot 98 in comb carriage 85, at the forward end of which there is a trip 99, this being carried by comb carriage; 85.

The. operation will beunderstood by reference to FIGS. 12 to 15 primarily, considered in conjunction with the foregoing description. In FIG. 12, the. transistor T is shown with itshead seated in nest 61 and with the leads thereof grasped by the combs 94 and 95. The comb arms 86 and 87, carrying the combs 94 and 95, aremoving to the left as viewed in FIG. 12, theretainer 63 holding the head of transistor. T in place in nest 61. The comb arms 86 and 87 are being driven forward as the comb carriage 85 to which they are connected is being moved by follower 77 and its driving cam 40. The driving cam 41 of follower 66 is also, at this time, causing the feed bolt 65 to move to the left, but at a much slower rate. This action continues until the entire length of the leads of the transistor T has been acted on by the combs. 94 and 95.- The combs 94 and 95 are at the ends of the leads at the highest rise of cam 40, and due to a dwell on the cam 40, the comb arms 86 and 87 and combs 94 and 95 are maintained in their most forward, or leftmost, position. The feed bolt 65 then continues its movement, and because of the engagement of pins 90 and 91 in the trackways 78 and 79 on the feed bolt 65, the comb arms 86 and 87 are swung open-as is shown in FIG. 13, the feed bolt 65 continuing to move the nest 61 and the transistor T carried thereby to the left and ename through the plane formerly occupied by the combs 94 and 5. Continued movement of the feed bolt 65 moves the retainer arm 64 past the end of slot 69 in plate 68, thereby permitting the spring 67 to move retainer arm 64 to the outward position shown in FIG. 14. At this instant, the only engagement of the transistor T with any part of the mechanism is the seating of the head of the transistor T in the nest 61. Immediately after the movement of retainer arm 64 to the position shown in FIG. 14, the outstanding arm of lever 76 engages the trip 99, the lever 76 thereby pivoting and the inner end thereof striking the ejector 71. This causes ejector 71 to move to the left, against spring 72, as is shown in FIG. 15, to thereby eject the transistor T out of the nest 61.

Following the ejecting of the transistor, continued rotation of the shaft 36 causes the parts to return to the initial or rest position.

The operation of the feed lever has been described above, it being noted, however, that when the feed lever 44 completes its travel to move the pusher bar 53 to place a transistor in the nest 61, the switch will be closed to thereby complete a circuit to permit the next cycle of the apparatus, failure of the switch 50 to close, as would be occasioned by a jam in the machine, would stop the apparatus by opening the circuit to the motor 33. Also, switch 45 is a motor control switch which must be periodically actuated to permit the continued energization of motor 33.

Supplementary guide To provide positive guidance of the leads after the combs are opened, a supplementary guide attachment may be provided.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 16 to 19 there is provided a comber and feeder to which is attached a supplementary guide 170, comprising a pair of arms 171 and 172 carrying at their outer ends supplementary guide blocks 173 and 174. Three parallel and mating grooves 175 and 176 are provided in each of the blocks 173 and 174, as may be seen in FIG. 17. These grooves are in alignment with the recesses in the combs 94 and 95. The arm 171 has a cam 177 thereon, and the arm 172 has a similar cam 178. These cams are positioned in the path of movement of the feed bolt 65.

The supplementary guide 170 is shown in FIG. 18 to comprise a support bracket 180 to which the arms 171 and 172 are attached by pivots 181 and 182. The arms 171 and 172 have extending ends which are engaged by a spring 183 that acts upon them to urge the guide blocks 1'73 and 174 to their closed position, as shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18. The support bracket is provided with suitable holes to permit its attachment to the housing 47 of cornber and feeder 60, and is shaped so as to avoid interfering with the outward swinging movement of retainer arm 64.

In operation, the feed bolt will move to the left, thereby opening the comb arms 86 and 87. The nest 61 will carry the head of transistor T so that the transistor T moves to the left, thus inserting the lead wires into the holes in supplementary guide blocks 173 and 174 as provided by the grooves 175 and 176. This provides for positive guidance of the lead wires as the entire transistor T advances, and after release of the leads by the combs 94 and 95. As the head of transistor T approaches the guide blocks 173 and 174, feed bolt 65 will strike the cams 177 and 178, thereby forcing the arms 171 and 172 open, as shown in FIG. 19, this also opening the guide blocks 173 and 174 to permit passage of the transistor T. Upon retraction of the feed bolt 65, after ejection of the transistor T, the spring 183 will return the arms 171 and 172 to the position shown in FIG. 16.

Lead guide and straightener The lead guide and straightener is shown in FIGS. 1 and 20 to 23. The lead guide portion 101 comprises a base plate 102 which is generally perpendicular to the line of movement of the feed bolt 65. Rotatably mounted on the base plate 102 is an annulus 103. Annulus 103 has a plurality of concentrically extending slots 104 through which pass the securing screws 106 which are fastened to the base plate 102. An arcuate rack 107 is on the annulus 1113, and is in mesh with the pinion 108, driven by a motor 109 (FIG. 1).

Slidably mounted in a guide way 111 in and through base plate 102 is a first guide block 112, guide block 112 having a generally V-shaped lower end with two halfcir cle holes 113 and 1 14 in the sides of the V-shaped end thereof. At the apex of the V-shaped end is a one-third circle hole 115. A pin 116 extends from the block 112 through a non-concentric arcuate slot 117 in the annulus 103.

A guide block 118, guided in a guide way 119 in and through base plate 102, and having a pin 121 extending through a non-concentric arcuate slot 122 in annulus 103, has a beveled end with a half-circle opening 123 and a one-third circle opening 125. A third guide block 126 is also movable in the guideway 119, which is perpendicular to guideway 111, and has a half-circle opening 124 and a one-third-circle opening the block 126 has a pin 127 which extends through a non-concentric arcuate slot 128 in annulus 103. The opening in annulus 103 is in alignment with the intersection of the guide ways 111 and 119.

A receiver chute 130 having a rack 131 on the side thereof in mesh with a pinion 132 driven by a motor 133 is mounted for movement on the base plate 102, receiver chute 130 having an open-sided slot extending longitudinally thereof which is open at its upper and lower ends. Alternatively, the receiver chute 130 may be actuated by a pin and non-concentric slot construction similar to that shown for moving the guide blocks 112, 118 and 126.

On the opposite side of the guide 161 from the comber and feeder 60 is a die block mechanism generally designated and comprising a support 141 (see FIGS. 1 and 22) having guides 142 and 143 for support blocks 144 and 146, which have therein die blocks 147 and 148. The support block 144 and 146 are connected by pins 149 and 151, these pins extending from the block 144 and into appropriate holes in block 146. A relatively weak spring (not shown) tends to keep the support blocks 144 and 146 apart, as well as the die blocks 147 and 148. As may be seen in FIG. 1, a rack 152 extends along the side of support block 144 and has engaged with it a pinion 153 driven by a motor 154. A hammer 155 is carried by a force mechanism, as a hydraulic ram (not shown), above the support blocks 144 and 146 when these blocks are in position immediately behind the guide 101.

The die blocks 147 and 143 are shown in partial, enlarged view in FIG. 23 and may be seen to have mating, undulating surfaces 157 and 158 with mating, part-circular holes extending therethrough, the composite holes being designated 163, 164 and 165 and having enlarged conical entrance portions. The composite holes 163, 164 and 165 are in alignment with the holes formed in guide blocks 112, 118 and 126.

In operation, as the leads of a transistor approach the guide 101, the guide blocks 112, 118 and 126 come together to form a continuous Wall section with composite holes or openings 113, 123; 114, 124; and 125, 135, each of the composite holes having an enlarged end portion adjacent the face of the composite wall facing the head of the transistor. The leads of the transistor will be moved towards the guide 101, with their ends generally aligned with the composite openings provided by the part-openings previously described in the guide blocks 112, 118 and 126. The leads of the transistor will be guided into these composite openings by the enlarged ends thereof, and then will pass through these openings and into the corresponding and aligned composite-openings 163, 164 and 165 of the die blocks 147 and 148, these die blocks ano es r .being in the position shown in FIG; 1. As the transistor head approaches the guide 101, an appropriate switch.

blocks 112, 118 and 126 to the positions shown in FIG. 7

21 due to the 'engagement'of the pins 116, 121 and 127 with the non-concentric slots 117, 122 and-128, respectively. After the transistor leads and the transistor head have passed through the plane of annulus 103 and base plate 102, the leads will be held in the die blocks 147 and 148,-and the hammer 155 will be caused to :give the upper die block 148 a sharp blow, which will strengthen the leads of the transistor. While the leads are thus being straightened, the motor 133 will be energized to drive the receiver chute 13 upwardly from the position shown in FIG. to that shown in FIG. 21, and the upper end of the receiver chute 130 will generally encompassthe head of the transistor T. Thereafter, the I motor 154 will be energized to retract the supports 144 and 146, with die blocks 147 and 148, to the left as shown in FIG. 1, thereby releasing the'le'ads of the'transistor, and permitting the transistor to descend by gravity, with its head in the receiver chute 130. Thereafter, the parts will return to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 20. There has been provided a lead comber and straightener, with a guide anda supplementary guide. These devices will rapidly comb the leads of a transsistor, and straighten them, the operations being automatically effected. They are entirely dependable in operation. a i It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the'invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated inthe appended claims.

What is plaimed is: V 7 LA guide for the leads of a transistor comprising a plurality of guide blocks with common meeting surfaces, said common meeting surfaces of said guide blocks having'cut away portions defining part-holes therein and com posite holes through said blocks when said blocks are in their meeting position forming a composite continuous wall section, forming a continuous composite wall'section, each of said composite holes being larger at a first face of said compositewallsection than at the second face annulusya pluralityof guide blocks slidable in said guideways, means on said annulus and said guide blocks for moving said guide blocks simultaneously in said guideways between meeting andspaced apart positions, said guide blocks having common meeting surfaces with cut away portions, means defining part-holes therein. and compositeparallel holes through, said blocks when said blocks are in their meeting positions forming'a composite continuous wall section; each of said composite holes being larger at a first face of said composite wall section than at a second face thereof, whereby each of the leads of said transistor is guided into one of the composite holes in said wall section by a larger opening at the first face. of said Wall section and held in alignment .by the lesser opening adjacent said second face of said composite wall section for partial insertion. of the leads of said transistor into an element adjacent said second face; and wherebyv said insertion maybe completed by moving said guide .blocks apart to leave an uninterrupted space between said tran- ,sistor and said element. I

5. The transistor lead guide. of claim 4 in which said annulus supporting means comprises a plurality of concentric ar'cuate'slo'tsin said annulus and securing means extending through each of said slots and. secured to said base plate. j

6. ,The transistor lead guide of claim.5 in which said means for moving said guide blocks insaid guideways between meeting and spaced .apart positionscomprises eccentric slots in said annulus and a pin extending from each of said blocks extending throughone of said eccentric slots. 1 a

7. The transistor lead guide of claim 6 in which the means for rotating the annulus comprises a concentric =rack thereon, a driven pinion inengagement with said rack for rotating said annulus. I

- 8.-The transistor lead guide of-cl-airn-4 in which the means for moving said guide blocksin said guideways thereof; means for moving said blocks to and from a meeting position, whereby each of the leads of said transistor is guided into a composite hole by the larger opening at the first face and held in alignment by the lesser opening portion adjacent the second face ofthe compositewall section for insertion of a lead into an element situated ad- 'jacent the second face.

2. The guide of claim 1, wherein there are three of said blocks.

3. The guide of claim 1 wherein the guiding means .is comprised of pivoted arms. 1

4. A. guide for the leads of a transistor comprising a base plate having a plurality of intersecting guideways' comprises eccentric slots in said anulus and a pin extending from each of said blocks through one of said eccentric slots. 9.*The transistor lead guide of claim 8 in which the means for rotating the annulus comprises a-concentric 'rack thereon, a driven pinion in engagement with said rack for rotating said annulus. 1

10. The transistor lead guide of claim 4 in which the means for rotating the annulus comprises :a concentric rack thereon, 'a driven pinion in engagement'with said rack for rotating said annulus whereby said guide blocks are moved in said guideways between meeting and spaced apart positions upon rotation of said annulus.

. References Cited by. the Examiner v UNITED STATES PATENTS 537,548

4/95 Rabus, 82-39 7 562,271 6/96 Blum 82-39 630,998 8/99 Smith 82-39 1,586,139 5/26 Bivins 82-39 2,511,827 6/50 Adams 82-39 2,587,929 3/52 Braver 82-39 3,071,166 7 1/63 Gutbier -1 3,144,889 8/64 Cole 140-140 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GUIDE FOR THE LEADS OF A TRANSISTOR COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF GUIDE BLOCKS WITH COMMON MEETING SURFACES, SAID COMMON MEETING SURFACES OF SAID GUIDE BLOCKS HAVING CUT AWAY PORTIONS DEFINING PART-HOLES THEREIN AND COMPOSITE HOLES THROUGH SAID BLOCKS WHEN SAID BLOCKS ARE IN THEIR MEETING POSITION FORMING A COMPOSITE CONTINUOUS WALL SECTIONS, FORMING A CONTINUOUS COMPOSITE WALL SECTION, EACH OF SAID COMPOSITE HOLES BEING LARGER AT A FIRST FACE OF SAID COMPOSITE WALL SECTION THAN AT THE SECOND FACE THEREOF; MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BLOCKS TO AND FROM A MEETING POSITION, WHEREBY EACH OF THE LEADS OF SAID TRANSISTOR IS GUIDED INTO A COMPOSITE HOLE BY THE LARGER OPENING AT THE FIRST FACE AND HELD IN ALIGNMENT BY THE LESSER OPENING PORTION ADJACENT THE SECOND FACE OF THE COMPOSITE WALL SECTION FOR INSERTION OF A LEAD INTO AN ELEMENT SITUATED ADJACENT THE SECOND FACE. 